Campbell has week to prepare for first start at QB for Bears

Cutler to miss game with concussion

Published: Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 12:02 a.m. CST

Caption

(Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) scrambles away from a Houston Texans defender during last Sunday's game. Cutler suffered a concussion during the game and will miss Monday's game against the 49ers.

By Andrew Seligman AP Sports Writer

LAKE FOREST — The Chicago Bears were bracing for an injury to Jay Cutler long before the season started.

Now, they'll see just how prepared they are.

Cutler will miss Monday's game at San Francisco because of a concussion, leaving the Bears without their starting quarterback. The team announced the decision Friday, meaning Jason Campbell is the likely starter against the 49ers.

Star receiver Brandon Marshall said Cutler is getting better, but he also said there's a bigger picture that goes beyond this week's game.

"Our life, our health, is more important than football," Marshall said. "I think we'll get Jay back sooner than later."

For now, the Bears believe they have enough to get by. They brought in Campbell in the offseason for a situation like this, and he found out before Thursday's practice that he'll be starting.

"You definitely don't want to see anyone get hurt or injured in this business," said Campbell, who's made 70 starts in his career with Washington and Oakland. "We understand it is a tough sport. Sometimes, things like that happen."

Coach Lovie Smith would not say if Cutler will make the trip to San Francisco. Players need to be cleared by team physicians and an independent neurological consultant before they can return, under NFL safety protocols. It's possible that the Bears could hold him out even if he gets the OK from doctors.

When asked about that, all Smith would say is: "He's not playing this week, and that's about as much as I'm going to go into it."

He added Cutler is getting better and the Bears hope to have him back for the game against Minnesota on Nov. 25.

Cutler's status was in question after he sat out the second half of Sunday night's loss to Houston. The Bears believe he was injured on a helmet-to-helmet hit by the Texans' Tim Dobbins, who was fined $30,000 by the league, late in the second quarter.